Our venerable father '''Ambrose of Optina''' (Russian: преподобный Амвросий Оптинский; properly '''Aleksandr Mikhaylovich Grenkov''' - Александр Михайлович Гренков, [[December 5]], 1812, Bolshaya Lipovitsa settlement, Tambov guberniya—[[October 23]], 1891) was a ''[[starets]]'' and a [[celibacy|celibate]] [[schema]] priest (''iyeroskhimonakh''), [[canonization|canonized]] in 1988 by the Local Council of the [[Russian Orthodox Church]]. His [[feast day]] is celebrated on [[October 10]], and the finding of his [[relics]] is commemorated on June 27.

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Aleksandr was born in the family of [[sexton]] Mikhail Fyodorovich Grenkov and Marfa Nikolayevna Grenkova. At the age of 12 Aleksandr entered the Tambov clerical school and later the Tambov theological seminary. Then he became a teacher in the [[Lipetsk]] clerical school and in [[1839]] entered the [[Vvedensk]] monastery of the [[Optina Monastery]] in [[Kaluga]] guberniya. A few years later, he was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[hierodeacon]], taking the name ''Ambrose'' in honor of Saint [[Ambrose of Milan]]. Two years later Ambrose became a celibate monk. When Reverend Macarius died in September, [[1860]], Ambrose became a superior of the monastery.

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==Life==

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Aleksandr was born in the family of [[sexton]] Mikhail Fyodorovich Grenkov and Marfa Nikolayevna Grenkova. At the age of 12 Aleksandr entered the Tambov clerical school and later the Tambov theological [[seminary]]. Then he became a teacher in the Lipetsk clerical school and in 1839 entered the [[Vvedensk Monastery]] of the [[Optina Monastery]] in Kaluga guberniya. A few years later, he was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[hierodeacon]], taking the name ''Ambrose'' in honor of [[Saint]] [[Ambrose of Milan]]. Two years later Ambrose became a celibate [[monk]]. When Fr. [[Macarius of Optina|Macarius]] died in September of 1860, Ambrose became a superior of the [[monastery]].

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Ambrose died in the Shamordinskaya cloister and was buried in the Optina desert. His relics were placed in the Vvedensk monastery.

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Ambrose died in the Shamordinskaya cloister and was buried in the Optina desert. His relics were placed in the Vvedensk Monastery.

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Life

Aleksandr was born in the family of sexton Mikhail Fyodorovich Grenkov and Marfa Nikolayevna Grenkova. At the age of 12 Aleksandr entered the Tambov clerical school and later the Tambov theological seminary. Then he became a teacher in the Lipetsk clerical school and in 1839 entered the Vvedensk Monastery of the Optina Monastery in Kaluga guberniya. A few years later, he was ordained a hierodeacon, taking the name Ambrose in honor of SaintAmbrose of Milan. Two years later Ambrose became a celibate monk. When Fr. Macarius died in September of 1860, Ambrose became a superior of the monastery.

Ambrose died in the Shamordinskaya cloister and was buried in the Optina desert. His relics were placed in the Vvedensk Monastery.